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Snapping?

As some of you may know in a recent thread in the Puppy Gallery I explained I have a new Cav pup at 9 weeks old called Rio.

He knows how to sit and do the paw trick, very intelligent, can be bossy at times and at the moment he is now 10 and a half weeks old.

We have been using the time-out method if he has been naughty and it seems to be working slowly but surely he is getting the idea.

However last night he snapped at my Dad and Mum both, while playing with him. Is this normal ???? it seemed a little out of character for him. He had his other injection on Saturday and the vet had thought he hit a nerve as everytime he moved he yelped so he gave him a little painkiller and he was right as rain, while during the checkup they found he had ear mites. He is currently taking ear drops for this.

Could the snapping be linked to his ear infection and his wanting to bite everything?

I was wondering if any of you could give us a few pointers on what we could do to help the little tyke.

Yes it is normal for puppies to snap -- they need to learn bite inhibition and this is a key part of your early training! They will snap in play and at this age it is very unlikely to be a behaviour problem or an indication of a temperament problem.

Six months is still pretty young, and the pup could still be teething and mouthing. Especially if the dog has not been taught not to bite (or the lessons have been inconsistent with different people allowing different things), six months is not too old for these puppy bites.

If the bites are caused not by play but are the result of rank challenges or fear, then its a different issue entirely. A trainer should be consulted.